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the PhET
written by Jackie Esler
This is a lesson plan for middle school, developed specifically to accompany the PhET simulation States of Matter. It gives explicit directions for using the simulation to explore the molecular structure of neon, oxygen, argon, and water in the three primary phases. The student guide gives just the right amount of guidance to help students discover how temperature and pressure inside a closed container affect the behavior of the molecules in different states (solid, liquid, and gas).
The "States of Matter" simulation, which must be open and displayed to complete this activity, is available from PhET at: States of Matter. This resource is part of PhET (Physics Education Technology Project), a large collection of free interactive simulations for science education. Editor's Note: This versatile simulation will help younger students visualize a molecular model of the primary states of matter. It can be used in high school to extend the model to phase changes and build understanding of how forces on atoms affect their interaction potential.
AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)4. The Physical Setting
4D. The Structure of Matter
4E. Energy Transformations
11. Common Themes
11B. Models
11D. Scale
This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.
Topic: Particles and Interactions and the Standard Model
Unit Title: Matter and Interactions This lesson plan accompanies the PhET simulation States of Matter. It gives explicit directions for using the activity to explore the molecular structure of neon, oxygen, argon, and water in the 3 primary phases. Gives just the right amount of guidance to allow students room to construct their own meaning. Link to Unit:
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![]() <a href="https://www.compadre.org/precollege/items/detail.cfm?ID=11325">Esler, Jackie. PhET Teacher Activities: Exploring Changes in States of Matter. Boulder: PhET, July 8, 2011.</a>
![]() J. Esler, (PhET, Boulder, 2011), WWW Document, (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3438).
![]() J. Esler, PhET Teacher Activities: Exploring Changes in States of Matter (PhET, Boulder, 2011), <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3438>.
![]() Esler, J. (2011, July 8). PhET Teacher Activities: Exploring Changes in States of Matter. Retrieved February 17, 2025, from PhET: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3438
![]() Esler, Jackie. PhET Teacher Activities: Exploring Changes in States of Matter. Boulder: PhET, July 8, 2011. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3438 (accessed 17 February 2025).
![]() Esler, Jackie. PhET Teacher Activities: Exploring Changes in States of Matter. Boulder: PhET, 2011. 8 July 2011. 17 Feb. 2025 <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3438>.
![]() @misc{
Author = "Jackie Esler",
Title = {PhET Teacher Activities: Exploring Changes in States of Matter},
Publisher = {PhET},
Volume = {2025},
Number = {17 February 2025},
Month = {July 8, 2011},
Year = {2011}
}
![]() %A Jackie Esler %T PhET Teacher Activities: Exploring Changes in States of Matter %D July 8, 2011 %I PhET %C Boulder %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3438 %O text/html ![]() %0 Electronic Source %A Esler, Jackie %D July 8, 2011 %T PhET Teacher Activities: Exploring Changes in States of Matter %I PhET %V 2025 %N 17 February 2025 %8 July 8, 2011 %9 text/html %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3438 Disclaimer: ComPADRE offers citation styles as a guide only. We cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. Please refer to the style manuals in the Citation Source Information area for clarifications.
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The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual. The APA Style presented is based on information from APA Style.org: Electronic References. The Chicago Style presented is based on information from Examples of Chicago-Style Documentation. The MLA Style presented is based on information from the MLA FAQ. This resource is stored in a shared folder. You must login to access shared folders. PhET Teacher Activities: Exploring Changes in States of Matter:
Requires
PhET Simulation: States of Matter
A link to the PhET simulation "States of Matter" which this lesson plan was specifically developed to accompany. relation by Caroline Hall
Supplements
PhET Simulation: States of Matter
Link to the PhET simulation "State Change", which must be open and running to complete this activity. relation by Caroline HallKnow of another related resource? Login to relate this resource to it. |
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